Charles law states that the volume of an ideal gas is directly proportional to the absolute

temperature at constant pressure. The law also states that the Kelvin temperature and the volume
will be in direct proportion when the pressure exerted on a sample of a dry gas is held constant.

This law was formulated in the year 1780 by French physicist Jacques Charles. This law was
described extensively in his unpublished work.

What Is Charles Law?

Charles’ law, also sometimes referred to as the law of volumes, gives a detailed account of how gas
expands when the temperature is increased. Conversely, when there is a decrease in temperature, it
will lead to a decrease in volume.

When we compare a substance under two different conditions, from the above statement, we can
write this in the following manner:

V2/V1=T2/T1

OR

V1T2=V2T1

This above equation depicts that as absolute temperature increases, the volume of the gas also
goes up in proportion.

In other words, Charle’s law is a special case of the ideal gas law. The law is applicable to the ideal
gases that are held at constant pressure, but the temperature and volume keep changing.

Charles Law Everyday Examples

Here are some examples by which you can understand Charle’s law very easily.

In winter, as the temperature decreases, when you take a basketball outside on the ground, it
shrinks. This is the only reason why it is important to check the pressure in the car tyres when you go
outside during cold days. This is also the case with any inflated object and explains why it’s a good
idea to check the pressure in your car tyres when the temperature drops.

If you overfill a tube that is placed in a pool on a hot day, it can swell up in the sun and burst.
Similarly, as the turkey cooks, the gas inside the thermometer expands until it can “pop” the plunger.
Pop-up turkey thermometers work based on Charles’ law. Another common application can be seen
in the working of a car engine.

Charles Law Formula

Charle’s Law formula is written as,

VI /TI = VF /TF

Where VI = Initial volume

VF = Final volume

TI = Initial absolute temperature

TF = Final absolute temperature

Here, we should remember that the temperatures are absolute temperatures that are measured in
Kelvin, not in ⁰F or ⁰C.

Charles Law Formula

Charle’s Law formula is written as,

VI /TI = VF /TF

Where VI = Initial volume

VF = Final volume

TI = Initial absolute temperature

TF = Final absolute temperature

Here, we should remember that the temperatures are absolute temperatures that are measured in
Kelvin, not in ⁰F or ⁰C.

It is important to know, as already discussed above, that the unit of temperature must be in Kelvin,
not in Celcius or Fahrenheit, to solve the problems related to Charle’s law. The temperature in Kelvin
is also known as the absolute temperature scale. To convert the temperature in Celcius to Kelvin,
you need to add 273 to the temperature in the Celsius scale.

According to Charles’ law, which states that the volume (V) of the gas is directly proportional to its
temperature (T), that must be in Kelvin.

When the temperature changes one unit of the Kelvin scale, it equals to a change in one Celsius
degree. Always remember that 0 on the Kelvin scale means -273 or “Absolute Zero”.

The density of the gas is inversely proportional to the temperature in the Kelvin when it is at a
constant mass and pressure.
Graphical Representation of Charles Law
ISOBAR – The graph between V and T at constant pressure is known as isobar or isoplestics, and it
always gives a straight line. A plot of V versus T (°C) at constant pressure is a straight line at –
273.15°C. -273.15 – degree Celcius is the lowest possible temperature.
Charles Law Application in Real Life
This law has a wide application in daily life. Some are explained below.

 In cold weather or in a cold environment, helium balloons shrink.

 In winter, when the weather is cool, the capacity of the human lung decreases. This makes it
more difficult for the athletes to perform on a freezing winter day, and it also makes it
difficult for people to go jogging.

Charles Law Solved Problems

1. A gas occupies a volume of 400cm3 at 0-degree Celcius and 780mm of Hg. How many litres of
volume will the gas occupy at 80-degree Celcius and 780 mm Hg?

Solution:

According to the question, V1 = 400 cm3

T1 = o degree Celcius = 0+273 = 273 K

T2 = 80 degree Celcius = 80+273 = 353 K

You need to find the V2.

Here, only the temperature is changing, the pressure remains constant

Using Charle’s law, V1/T1 = V2/T2

Putting the above values in Charle’s law, we get,

400/273 = V2/353

V2 = 400*353/273

V2 = 517.21CM3

Since 1 cubic centimetres = 0.001 litres,

517.21 cubic centimetres = 517.21*10^-3=0.517 litres.

Problem #1: Calculate the decrease in temperature (in Celsius) when 2.00 L at 21.0 °C is compressed to 1.00
L.

Solution:

(2.00 L) / 294.0 K) = (1.00 L) / (x)

cross multiply to get:

2x = 293

x = 147.0 K

Converting 147.0 K to Celsius, we find -126.0 °C, for a total decrease of 147.0 °C, from 21.0 °C to -126.0 °C.

Problem #2: 600.0 mL of air is at 20.0 °C. What is the volume at 60.0 °C?

Solution:

(600.0 mL) / (293.0) = (x) / (333.0 K)

x = 682 mL

Problem #3: A gas occupies 900.0 mL at a temperature of 27.0 °C. What is the volume at 132.0 °C?

Solution:

(900.0 mL) / (300.0 K) = (x) / (405.0 K)

x = 1215 mL

Problem #4: What change in volume results if 60.0 mL of gas is cooled from 33.0 °C to 5.00 °C?
Solution:
(60.0 mL) / (306.0 K) = (x) / (278.00 K)
Cross multiply to get:
306x = 16680
x = 54.5 mL <--- that's the ending volume, which is NOT the answer
The volume decreases by 5.5 mL.

Problem #5: Given 300.0 mL of a gas at 17.0 °C. What is its volume at 10.0 °C?
Solution:
In cross-multiplied form, it is this:
V1T2 = V2T1
V2 = (V1T2) / T1 <--- divided both sides by T1
x = [(300.0 mL) (283.0 K)] / 290.0 K

Problem #6: A gas occupies 1.00 L at standard temperature. What is the volume at 333.0 °C?
Solution:
In cross-multiplied form, it is this:
V1T2 = V2T1
V2 = (V1) [T2 / T1] <--- notice how I grouped the temperatures together
x = (1.00 L) [(606.0 K) / (273.0 K)]
x = 2.22 L

Problem #7: At 27.00 °C a gas has a volume of 6.00 L. What will the volume be at 150.0 °C?
Solution:
Two different set-ups:
(6.00 L) / (300.0 K) = (x) / (423.0 K)
or
(6.00 L) (423.0 K) = (x) (300.0 K)
Same answer:
x = 8.46 L
Problem #8: At 225.0 °C a gas has a volume of 400.0 mL. What is the volume of this gas at 127.0 °C?
Solution:
From #6:
V2 = (V1) [T2 / T1]
x = (400.0 mL) [(400.0 K) / (498.0 K)
x = 321 mL
Here's the "traditional" way:
(400.0 mL) / (498.0 K) = (x) / (400.0 K)

Problem #9: At 210.0 °C a gas has a volume of 8.00 L. What is the volume of this gas at -23.0 °C?
Solution:
(8.00 L) / (483.0 K) = (x) / (250.0 K)
Note how you can have a negative Celsius temperature, but not a negative Kelvin temperature.

Problem #10: When the volume of a gas is changed from ___ mL to 852 mL, the temperature will
change from 315 °C to 452 °C. What is the starting volume?
Solution:
Write Charles Law and substitute values in:
V1 / T1 = V2 / T2
x / 588 K = 852 mL / 725 K
(x) (725 K) = (852 mL) (588 K)
x = 691 mL
Note the large °C values, trying to get you to forget to add 273. Remember, only Kelvin temperatures are
allowed in the calculations.
 Ideal Gases and the Ideal Gas Law
Ideal Gas Law
 Combining Boyle's Law, Charles' Law and Avogadro's Law gives us the ideal gas law
PV=nRT
P is pressure measured in kPa
V is volume measured in L
n is number of moles of the gas in mol
R is the ideal gas constant with a value of 8.314 L kPa mol-1 K-1
T is temperature measured in K

 There are other values of R involving other units, such as 0.08206 L atm mol -1 K-1

Ideal Gases Assumptions

 Ideal gas particles are in constant, random, straight motion
 Ideal gas particles occupy a negligible portion of the total volume of the container - their
individual contribution may be ignored

 Ideal gas particles collide elastically with themselves and the walls of the container;
there is no loss of kinetic energy
 Ideal gas particles do not attract, nor repel each other

Deviations from Ideal Gas Behavior

 In reality, no gas behaves ideally.
 Gases behave most ideally at:
 High temperatures: collisions between particles are elastic
 Low pressures: particle size is negligible compared to the space between particles
 Ideal gas behavior breaks at:
 Low temperatures: low molecular speed, collisions are no longer elastic
 High pressures: volume of the individual gas particles no longer negligible